Sorting apparatus



Cd. 21, 1952 J w WH|T$QN 2,614,697

SORTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 21, 1952 J. w. WHITSON 2,614,697

SORTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 21, 1952 1;

QF E: Y

, S B NG AB T U I s v John W. Whitson, New York, N. Y assignor of one-half to Clare H. Whitson, New York, N. Y. Application February 15,1950, serial No. 144,281 g My invention relates to improvement in 'sorting apparatus for'the sorting'of time cards, coupons, bank checksiand other media used in com in many differentformsfior the-' purpose of illustrationi I have shown only certain forms of the same in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig; 1is a front elevation of the'apparatus'.- Fig.2 is a'front elevation of a primary element.

-Fig.'3"is a'front elevation of a series of'se'c- 'ondary elements.

.Fig. .4 is a front'elevation of a secondary element of a different'formation from that of Fig. 3. 5.'is a" longitudinal cross-section of the I 7 Claims, "(01. 211 -410) apparatus .taken'on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing onlyi'the primaryelements in position. v --Fig.'6 isa side'elevation of the upper locking member of a partition. Fig. 7 is an end'elevationof the same.

the same openings and rivets or screws 60 are inserted thru' openings lend H to" lock the assembly together, the: openings H and'll" are in'aligiimen't when the members 5 and! are asse'mble'd; With all of'the partitions 4 thus in place the entire assembly of partitions *and' pri'-" mary sorting "elements is placed in the casing over an assembly of members lz'which' enter openings M of the primary sorting elements 8. members 5?. are fastened to cros's'm'embers l3, the ends of which are each bent upwardly, and formed'intoa loop to fit around a vertical po'st [6, the loopfitting between two knurled'lock nuts ll. The posts [6 are bolts and are'sorewed thru the bottom 2 of the casing; th'e bolt heads serve as feetfor the apparatus as illustrated at H3; The assembly of members 12 and [3 forms amovable floor or support means which carrbe raised or" lowered thru movement of the lock" 'be in' substantially the same relative position to V the upper margins of the sorting elements' for easy removal from the apparatus; Thus; my invention can be used with diiferent sizes of sortable media 'and one size of 'media isas readily remov able iror'n the apparatus as another size. I A't' each' endfo'f theflocking members 1, of the 7 partitions :4, isan opening |8"for the reception rigse is aside elevation of thelower'ls' pacin member of a partition.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation o f'the samef" Figk'lO is a perspective View of the-front end of the apparatus. r

Fig. 11 is one'example of a sortable medium.'

12 'is' a diagram illustrating a stepin the operation'of thapparatus. i

Inthe"drawingslhaveshown a casing 1 with afbottom. or' floor'2 'and side walls Sand 3". "A j plurality of longitudinal extending partitions I arei'positioned laterally in the basins; each pair;

titionhas'a"lowerspacing member 5 with spaced openings Bformed in the bottom edge thereof and an upper U-shap'd locking-member 1. A plurality of primary sorting elements ll are movably heldinthe openings 6 soasto be readily tilted toward the' front orfthe rear of the apparatus:

thruapressureon a finger member 8*. "The par? of area 19 which is passed th'ere-thru and fasg tened into theside walls Sand 3 of the casing Secondary-sorting elements fil and 2] each ai e sii saq iew 2. tqrec i' t v rtitions anda series'of; openings 2? to receive 1 the seer members 12;

.lsi, Qfjfi-h sec ndary rfi s nt re I placedbetween the primary, elements, as. illustratd'ihFig. l0; therebeing a secondary sorting element} 11 back. of each secondary element 20. 1

set of the secondary sorting elements, ,29. sieifins r mber 211' for-tilting the elements towardstheiront or rearof the apparatus thru a finger pressureagainst'the finger members. The members 29' of a set ;,are-,ein"-oif-set relation to each other as illustrated in Fig. 3 and are marked w'i th th'e numerical digits 0, to '9 as illustrated.

se'ceneaiy sqrtmg elements zil are alsomarkedi' adjacent their upper 'edgesjwith the numerical titions are received in openings 9 of the sorting elements, the lower spacingmember is inserted thru an aligned series of the op'e'ni ngs 9 and then its locking member! is" inserted 'tliru g ts 9jf9ffl 9 iv i' stm t 2A.. Fis. 3... and secondary sorting elements 2! V are marked thus'withthe numerical digits 5 t 9 .inc1i1sive'.ja$

" iuustrated at 25, Fig; 4. 'Ihese markingsserve to identify one thousand of the receptacles 26, Fig. 10, formed by the sorting elements in combination with the partitions. The receptacles at the left have no identifying numbers.

All of the sorting elements have their lefthand marginal edges cut at an angle as illustrated at 21 and the lower edges of all of the elements rest on the bottom 2 of the casing l.

The finger'membe'rs 8 of the primary sorting elements are in alignment with each other and are marked with the numerical digits to 9 inclusive, except the rearmost element which has no identifying digit. Indication of these markings is shown by the numbers enclosed in circles at the top of Fig. 5.

The secondary sorting elements have projections formed in their surfaces adjacent their up.

per margins as illustrated at 28, to serve as an arresting means and stop the upward movement of sortable media that is composed of material too light to provide sufficient weight-for the media to remain at the "bottom of the receptacles 26 thru the action of gravity. The movement forward and backwardof the sorting elements tends to cause an upward movement of the media and project the media above the upper margins of the 'sortingelements; the projections 28 arrest thismovement. The projections 28 may be in the form of-wire staples as illustrated.

The sorting elements may be formed from any suitable sheet material.

The primary sorting elements may have the numerical digits to 9 inclusive marked on them so thatthey may serve the purpose of a secondary element 24 p 1 The primary sorting elements form a means for the secondary sorting elements, the primary elements serving to support each of the sets of secondary elements when they are tilted towards the front or rear of the apparatus.

The sorting elements form the front and rear walls of the receptacles 26.

The sorting elements fit loosely over the partitions 4 so that the sorting elements may be freely moved forward and backward in the easing I.

The lock nuts I 1 and projections 28 may be omitted and handles 3|, as indicated in dotted lines,- -Fig.- 5; may be fastened to cross members I3; the purpose of the handles being to raise the members l2 and cause them to move upwardly sortable media, such as bank checks, and cause the media to be partially projected above the sorting elements so that the said media may be more easily removed from the apparatus.

The sorting elements may be spaced apart. by the formation of. projections as illustrated at 32 and 32", Fig. 4, so as to increase the distance between the sorting elements and thus provide a receptacle 26 whose front to back depth would be as determined by the projections.- Projections may be formed in or fastened on any of the sorting elements as desired; those illustrated at 32 are ressed outwardl from the front face of. an element 2| and those illustrated at 32' are pressed outwardly from the rear face of the element.

Operation Suppose that it is desired tosort a series of coupons 29, 1 1. The coupons are first sorted into groupings by their thousands digit.

With the sortingv elements tilted toward the" support 4 by finger pressure on its finger member 8 toward the front of the apparatus causing an increase in the top distance between this primary sorting element and the next rearmost primary sorting element. Next the secondary sorting element whose number corresponds with the tens digit is moved, by finger pressure on its finger number 20, to a vertical position. This opens two series of receptacles 2 6 "and exposes their numbers as at 24 and 25 as illustrated in'Fig. 10, the coupon is then dropped into the receptacle Whose number corresponds to the units digit of the'coupon. For example, to sort the coupon of Fig. 11, by its account number 1024, the coupen is picked up with one hand and the fingers of the other hand are used to operate the apparatus; then primary sorting element whose rear of the apparatus, the primary sorting element, whose number corresponds with the hundreds digit of the couponto be; sortedis moved finger member 8' is marked 0 (which corresponds witlith'e hundreds digit of the coupon account number) is moved to its forward position as illustrated in Fig. 10; next the secondary sorting element whose finger member 2a. is marked with the digit 2 (which corresponds with the tens digit of the coupon account number) is moved to asubstanti'ally vertical position to open twoseries of the receptacles 26 and exposing their numbers to view as at Ml and 25; Fig.-10; the coupon is then dropped into receptacle Hum-- ber 4 (which number corresponds with the units digit of the coupon account number) as illustrated in dotted linesat 29', Fig. 10.- The fore-1;

going is followed until all of the coupons of a series have been sorted intothe apparatus whence they may be removed positioned in numerical sequence. her may be sorted into a single receptacle 26..

Since some of the coupons will rest against the back of the secondarysorting elements when the apparatus is opened, it is necessary to provide.- that a ll 'of the coupons will rest'in'abackwardly inclined position when it is desired to examine the coupons while they are still sorted into the apparatus. With all of the sorting elements inclined toward the rear of the apparatus, each secondary sorting element is raised in turn. and

its bottom margin is positioned against the next rearwardly positioned sortingelement, as illustrated in Fig. 12, so as to hold the coupons pressed against the rearward sortingeleme'nt in which position the coupons may be readily examined. The openings 22 and 23' in thesecond ary sorting members serve to facilitate the foregoing described operation and in combination with their associated element'provide a meansin the apparatus; coupon number 3 is removed 1 from its: position and placed in the unnumbered receptacle adjacent to wall 3' at the left of the apparatus as illustrated in 'dotted'lin'es at 30; Fig. 1.- When a series of coupons have been thus sorted the coupons-in the receptacleat the left" will be in account-number'sequence: whenthey are removedfrom the apparatus. The angular margins 21- ot the sorting elements expose theupper leit-hand corner of the coupon :sothat they may be easily grasped for removal from apparatus.

Each set of. secondary sorting"elements '2liq-nay" have their finger members 20' marked fol Several coupons of a like account 'numlows: 0, 10, 20, 3-0, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 for the 1st set; 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 for the 2nd set; 200, 210, 220, 230, etc. for the 3rd set; with each of the remaining sets being marked likewise, the 4th set starting with 300, the 5th set with 400, the 6th set with 500, the 7th set with 600, the 8th set with 700, the 9th set with 800 and the 10th set with 900; with the secondary elements marked thus the finger members 8' may be omitted from the primary elements. The apparatus would be used by selecting the secondary element bearing the hundreds and tens digits of the account number of the coupon and then selecting the receptacle according to the unit digit as hereinbefore described.

The apparatus may also be constructed with four of the partitions 4 so as to have five of the receptacles 26 in transverse alignment, in which event the angular edge 21 would be omitted from the sorting elements. Such a modification of the apparatus would be made when it is desired to construct one for, say, sorting bank checks or time cards into numerical order; the checks would be sorted into the apparatus in accordance with the three ending digits of the check or time card number as hereinbefore described in the sorting of coupons.

} The apparatus may also be constructed with nine of the partitions 4 so as to have ten of the receptacles 20 in transverse alignment, in which event the secondary sorting elements 2| would be omitted and the secondary sorting elements 20 would be marked at 24 with the digits to 9 to indicate each of the ten receptacles 26.

The apparatus may also be constructed with member having an additional opening 6 formed therein between each of the illustrated openings 6, each of which added openings will receive a secondary element 20 with the openings Sand I 4 (of primary element 8) formed therein instead of the openings 22 and 23 of Fig. 3. With the apparatus thus constructed it may be used as already described for the sorting of media in accordance with three digits and when it is desired to greatly increase the size of the receptacles 26 to accommodate a greater number of, say, time cards, then the secondary elements made as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 may be removed from the apparatus in which case the apparatus would have one hundred of the receptacles 26, the primary elements 8 would be suitably marked as hereinbefore described to indicate which of the receptacles 26 they would form. The time cards would be sorted into the apparatus in accordance with their tens and units digits by first selecting the primary element 8 corresponding to the tens digit and then placing the time card in the receptacle in accordance with the units digit. A second sort may then be made in accordance with the hundreds and thousands digits and so on for each pair of digits in the time card number.

While I have described my invention above in detail, I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. In a sorting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of partitions mounted in said casing, a plurality of selectively tiltable elements positioned transversely of said partitions in fixed spaced relationship to each other, the said elements and 6 the said partitions forming a plurality of receptacles.

2. In a sorting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of partitions mounted in said casing, a plurality of selectively tiltable elements positioned transversely of said partitions and maintained in fixed spaced relationship to each other, the said elements and the said partitions forming a plurality of receptacles, by interlocking openings in the said elements and the said partitions 3. In a sorting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of partitions mounted in said casing, a plurality of selectively tiltable elements positioned transversely of said partitions in fixed spaced relationship to each other, the said elements and the said partitions forming a plurality of receptacles, a movable floor positioned in the said casing and openings in the said elements which openings receive members of the said movable fioo'r.

4. In a sorting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of partitions mounted in said casing, a plurality of selectively tiltable elements positioned transversely of said partitions in fixed spaced relationship to each other, the said elements and the said partitions forming a plurality of receptacles, and a movable floor positioned in the said casing and means for moving the said floor.

5. In a sorting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of partitions mounted in said casing, a plurality of selectively tiltable elements positioned transversely of said partitions in fixed spaced relationship to each other, the said elements and the said partitions forming a plurality of receptacles for the reception of sortable media and support means for the said media and means to move the first mentioned means.

6. In a sorting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of partitions mounted in said casing, a plurality of selectively tiltable elements positioned transversely of said partitions in fixed spaced relationship to each other, the said elements and the said partitions forming a plurality of receptacles for the reception of sortable media and media arresting means formed on a tiltable element.

7'. In a sorting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of partitions mounted in said casing, a plurality of selectively tiltable elements positioned transversely of said partitions in fixed spacedrelationship to each other, the said elements and the said partitions forming a plurality of receptacles, and receptacle size varying means including elements common to all of the said receptacles.

JOHN W. WHITSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,113,182 Avery Oct. 13, 1914 1,440,491 Proudfit Jan. 2, 1923 1,712,318 Wood May 7, 1929 1,713,945 Bromfield May 21, 1929 2,109,713 Schroeder Mar. 1, 1938 2,429,349 Evans Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 19,401 Great Britain 1901 

